South Africa - Day 11, Oliphants

This morning started with this lovely coffee service at the safari vehicle and the announcement that it looked like the wind had died down, so we were off to Oliphants Rest Camp which is on the Oliphants River (Oliphants = Elephants).

Andrew (Safari Guide) is serving the coffee. Welsh Dave is wandering back & forth in front of the camera. Mary is on the right and Vince is the one speaking off-screen.

Some context before - This is a map of the entire Kruger National Park -- the green lines demark the part of the park we visited.

This is an inset of the part we visited along with each day's route in a different color

This is detail of the route for the day

Again I will start with the animals

Giraffes

We stopped because there were several cars stopped for these

Black-backed Jackal (that is fur on their backs)

But what they were really looking at is the Lions -our first look

African Buffalo (Yellow-billed Oxpecker hitchhikers)

Waterbuck (with Impala)

A closer look - Black-backed Jackal

Steenbok

This Spotted Hyena walked right down the road and past us -- on the wrong side of the road for me to photo -- this is actually through the windshield.

Warthog

and of course -- Elephants

Now to the birds

Common Buzzard

Black-crowned Tchagra

Bateleur -- means acrobat because they rock back and forth when they fly, like a tight rope walker.

Yellow-billed Oxpecker gets its close-up

Southern Ground Hornbill

Rattling Cisticola -- named for its "sound" - it Rattles!

Sabota Lark

Lilac-breasted Roller

Lesser Gray Shrike

Lesser Spotted Eagle

In the beginning of the day, Andrew asked me what my #1 target bird was. Easy - Secretary Bird -- I even tried to manifest it by painting it.

We missed it on the East Coast, so he was my only hope. He frowned and said there are only six pairs in the park, and we aren't even going to most of the park. He added I only see it on about 25% of my tours, but will give it our best shot. This was the result...

Shortly after 8AM Andrew spotted not one, but TWO Secretary Birds. They we're really close or in good light, but they were "hunting" and shortly after we spotted them. One started stomping on the ground. Apparently this is how they kill prey, in this case a snake. After a few moments it grabbed the snake an swallowed it whole. We never determine what species the snake was. We spent a good long time with those birds and I was a happy Birder

Secretarybird - BTW they are about 4.5 feet tall -- Big birds

Stomping

This is a video I found that shows Secretarybird stomping with a rubber snake. Kind of cruel, but really interesting.

We took a breakfast break at Oliphants Rest Camp - the restaurant overlooks the river, although it was too windy to sit outside I did manage to remember to get a video

Before we departed for the rest of the drive, I found this Antherina moth in the parking lot for Welsh Dave who is a big fan.

Black-backed Jackal

Kudo

Spotted Hyena

Steenbok

Zebra

African Buffalo

Waterbuck

Kudu

Waterbuck

Savanna Elephant

Giraffe

Water Monitor

Young Crocodile

Older Crocodile

This is one Andrew called over --

Orange-tip Butterfly

Now on to the second phase of birds

Waterbirds:

White-crowned Lapwing

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Little Egret

Gray-headed Gull

Fulvious Whistling Ducks

Common Greenshank

Crowned Lapwing

Common Greenshank

Now the Land & Sky birds

African Gray Hornbill

African Eagle-Hawk

Black Kite

Blacksmith Lapwing

Emerald Spotted Wood-dove

Golden-breasted Bunting

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Green-backed Camaroptera

Green-winged Pytilia

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Laughing Dove

Lesser Masked Weaver

Lilac-breasted Roller

Rattling Cisticola

Red-billed Oxpeckers hitching a ride on a Giraffe

Red-crested Bustard

Red-faced Mousebird

Sabota Lark

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Southern Yellow Hornbill

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

At @1pm I spotted another Secretarybird -- this time closer, on the correct side of the road (for me) and more cooperative, it hung around for @15 minutes. As you might imagine there are a LOT of photos, so please indulge me. Or skip to the end for a little more about the Rest Camp. I really love this species!

Secretarybird!

My last look at this Secretarybird -- I love that its Black head feathers are flying. We were back in the camp for a rest-bit and dinner. Here is what the Rondaveli actually looked like.

We heard an African Scops-Owl at dinner and then went on a night drive - which was run by the Camp on a truck so we didn't have our own vehicle. I didn't take my camera because I just wanted to experience it without worrying about taking a photo. I regret it just a little because most of the animals were far away and we didn't see any new birds. We did have several Lions lying in the road (which they do at night for warmth) and Mary happen to drop her phone when we were right next to them. The driver was very accommodating and got out to retrieve it -- YIKES!

We also saw some new animals Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat, Slender Mongoose, Common Genet

Blotched Genet, African Civet, African Wild Cat & Nyala. It was long, cold & uncomfortable for those who had to hold up the searchlight -- but I'm glad we did it. It was very cool being beyond the gates at night when lots of creatures are more active.

Early start again tomorrow.